Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) - Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann on Friday described protesters who interrupted her foreign policy speech aboard the USS Yorktown the day before as "ignorant" and "disrespectful."

"They haven't been told what was done for them and that's what's a shame. And I think that as soon as they would know, if they understood the heavy price that was paid for that First Amendment right, they'd be much more respectful," Bachmann said while shaking hands at a Veterans Day parade in Columbia, South Carolina.
On Thursday, about a dozen protesters caused a stir when they stood up and delivered a coordinated message through a tactic known as a "human microphone," where one person yells out a message and the rest of the group repeats it collectively. A group called Occupy Charleston claimed on its website that it has staged the interruption.

"Blaming people that disagree with you, unpatriotic socialists… this does not help the American people," the group shouted.

The disturbance drowned out the Minnesota congresswoman's remarks, and she briefly left the stage until it was over. When she returned, she praised the group's right to protest.

"Don't you just love the First Amendment? It's great, we have a great country and I want to thank you all for your understanding," she said.

But at the parade on Friday, after a woman unrelated to the group apologized for what happened at the speech, Bachmann talked about the incident with a harsher tone than the one she took the previous day

"I was surrounded by heroes yesterday on the USS Yorktown who paid a big price for them, and they're just ignorant of that," Bachmann responded. "That's all. They're ignorant and they were disrespectful, but you know someday hopefully they'll come to know the price that was applied."

soundoff(587 Responses)

MommaM

So it's ok for the Tea Party members to shout and spit at members of Congress who disagree with them but not ok for those who disagree with Michelle Bachmann to express their view – we are ALL allowed to voice our opinions – I think she needs a lesson on our history.

November 11, 2011 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

Steve

Maybe if Bachmann genuinely appreciated the price paid to establish and protect the right to free speech, she would show some respect herself for what those who disagree with her extremist and destructive agenda are trying so hard to communicate.

November 11, 2011 03:22 pm at 3:22 pm |

sara

No she didn't . After 3 years of disrespecting and spurring ignorant statements of Untruths and Hearsay to the American people.? Don't even count the many times she has disrespected my president. Hussle

November 11, 2011 03:23 pm at 3:23 pm |

FelipeBR

Tell her to pray the protesters away.

November 11, 2011 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |

Keyser

Well, you gotta give her this one. Who would know 'ignorant and disrespectful' better than Michelle Bachmann?

November 11, 2011 03:24 pm at 3:24 pm |

Topaz

"Ignorant and disrespectful" ? of all the people this woman calling others ignorant and disrespectful. In every debate or speech her opening sentence starts with bashing the President. Where is the respect she is talking about? First she should set an example by respecting Mr. Obama and the office of the President of the United States, before passing the judgment on others. This woman has no character or integrity and she is lecturing others.

November 11, 2011 03:26 pm at 3:26 pm |

Big_D

Just when you think the GOP couldn't sink any lower, Bachmann goes lower.

November 11, 2011 03:26 pm at 3:26 pm |

kurtinco

She didn't even have the...courage...to open a dialogue with those people. She just ran away and now hides behind empty rhetoric. I hope the tea party taliban nominate her, I really do!!!

November 11, 2011 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Don

I only have one question of relevance here. Do the Republicans as a party of ignorance actually have one person among them who is not intelligence challenged? Just one? I haven't seen one yet and I am 60 years old, for some reason I feel I shall die before there ever exists an 'intelligent' Republican. How can there be so many incredibly stupid people who can support such a failed and incredibly stupid ignorant party?

November 11, 2011 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Jack in Florida

Talk about ignorant!! I guess it is ok when the teabaggers are ignorant and disrespectful to our President, but it is not ok to treat her the same way. What goes around comes around....it's called karma.

November 11, 2011 03:27 pm at 3:27 pm |

Lisa P

The First Amendment guarantees a right to speak, but it does not force anyone to listen. That's not to say listening has no value, though. Perhaps if Ms. Bachmann listened more her poll numbers would not be in the low single digits. Perhaps if she had talked with and listened to the protesters she would not call them "ignorant" (nor would she herself be quite so ignorant). I don't know anything about this particular group but many of the Occupy protesters around the nation are veterans themselves. Perhaps Ms. Bachmann needs to learn to show a little more respect before she starts complaining about not being shown enough respect by others, especially when she has no idea who those others are. Loose lips, Ms. Bachmann, can sink a lot of things. Listen before you speak.

November 11, 2011 03:28 pm at 3:28 pm |

Copper's Donut Shoppe

Back in the 60s the conservatives attacked and beat anyone who wore any type of flag anything.
Not the the repugs have anointed themselves as the only party of god and country it is now fashion

November 11, 2011 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

Tony in Maine

This woman is beyond belief.

November 11, 2011 03:29 pm at 3:29 pm |

Anonymous

What a joke. I does not seem to be that our armed services necessarily protects the first amendment from evil outside assailants anymore (if ever). Congress and the supreme court that seems hell bent on giving more rights to those people/corporations with the most money is really the biggest threat. Clueless and ignorant yet again... yeah – let's make everything a military/patriotism argument.

November 11, 2011 03:31 pm at 3:31 pm |

interested 48

Just how dumb is this woman!! She surpasses herself in stupidity every time she speaks. When will she just GO AWAY!

November 11, 2011 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |

Corporations R. People II

Exhibit projection much? Blah-mann personifies the charges she lobs agianst the protesters. Astroturf tea party is getting a taste of their own medicine.

November 11, 2011 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |

Kevin O.

Is that a flag around her throat? I DEMAND SHE BE ARRESTED!!!!

November 11, 2011 03:32 pm at 3:32 pm |

DannyCali

Mrs. Bachmann, what's about your body Rep. Joe Wilson not respect President Obama when he speak, so that is respectful huh???????

November 11, 2011 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

Cat

What a terrible woman!! She is a blithering idiot.

November 11, 2011 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

ddblah

So self-righteous! Those veterans also protected YOUR own freedom of speech!

November 11, 2011 03:33 pm at 3:33 pm |

Lee

@Bana – No, patriots do not use the American flag as a neck kercheif. Most patriots know that you NEVER use the flag as a form of clothing. That means no flag shirt, no flag hot pants, etc... Flag pins and patches ON clothes are acceptable, but not AS clothes.

November 11, 2011 03:34 pm at 3:34 pm |

Gary, Hunt Valley, Md.

ahhhhh, the sounds of a campaign in the drowning mode....Good luck holding on to your Congressional seat. In the meantime, buy yourself an American history textbook and do some brushing up on the basics. We'll begin with Lexington and Concord.

November 11, 2011 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |

Tony

It does not matter what the protestors said, but anyone that Bachmann calls ignorant has got to be insulted. It is like Rick Perry saying that you are a bad debater.

November 11, 2011 03:37 pm at 3:37 pm |

bambam

Wow, she's like the pot calling the kettle black! Wanna talk about ignorant and disrespectful! Only in America can an incompetent bimbo actually get people to support her for President. Those people are the ignorant ones!

November 11, 2011 03:40 pm at 3:40 pm |

Ramon F. Herrera

"They haven't been told what was done for them and that's what's a shame. And I think that as soon as they would know, if they understood the heavy price that was paid for that First Amendment right, they'd be much more respectful,"